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FIFA SOCCER 13 by EA SPORTS Review

PROS

Buttery smooth animations, now includes satisfying facial expressions for those moments of victory/defeat.

Online multiplayer; limited, but fast-paced for those who like a quick competitive challenge.

Further hybridization of controls; retains familiarity of console setup, while taking advantage of the touch-based system.

CONS

Small audio glitches; audience/commentators cutting out at odd points.

Mostly small changes across the board; no need to rush in to FIFA 13 if you’ve just grabbed the previous version.

iPhone/iPod Touch control connectivity for the iPad sketchy; prone to crashing and input latency even at close distances.

VERDICT

FIFA 13 continues the tradition of ‘fixing’ previous iterations by only a small degree, thankfully the sum-weight of these changes turns out to be quite a lot, making it a worthy pick up for fans of Football games.

Full Review

App Store Info

The waves keep crashing against the beach; the sun keeps rising; and the moon’s orbit slowly decays to an eventual stop; such are the many natural things we can can count on to happen every day, including Electronic Arts’ inevitable update to the FIFA franchise.

If you detect a slightly sour bitterness on the palette, don’t worry, it’s just a sore point borne of the cyclical nature of the game industry.

There is, however, a benefit to this kind of repetitive updating on the iOS platform - notably each year we are provided with slightly more powerful devices to use and the developers involved become better versed with touch-based gaming; the end result is always a step forward.

FIFA 13 is no exception, and in fact trumps its prior iterations handily by merging the usual spit-shine-and-polish approach with brand new features that are definitely worthy of praise.

Foremost is the inclusion of an online mode to play matches against random opponents or against your Origin friends. A ‘ladder’ of sorts ranks you and your friends, and you can expect a speedier, more ‘arcade’ feeling experience should you take the plunge.

For those who like to get in to the nitty-gritty, Manager Mode returns, complete with fine-tuning that makes life easier on the management side of things, while throwing in a few more curve-balls (injuries, for example, are far more common).

Gameplay itself is very smooth, and while the graphics haven’t seen much of an upgrade, small touches such as the inclusion of facial expressions gives the players more life (especially on replays) and the crowd feels less like a spooky stadium of cardboard cut-outs.

Your choice of controls will be determined by how many of the automatic or manual options you decide to keep on or off, but the hybridization of the console and touch-based innovations continues in FIFA 13. Touch-hold-and-swipe returns for those who prefer finessed maneuvers, while the inclusion of the skill-move grid makes for a complex, but satisfying way of out-playing the AI opponents, who have been given a subtle boost thanks to the inclusion of other player-helpers such as calling for a second defender.

Also, if you happen to have an iPad lying around you can use your iPhone as a controller, making for a not-so-cheap, but entertaining portable console setup (if you can stand the Bluetooth input latency).

Ultimately FIFA 13 only takes things up a notch across the board, but seeing as the game is already at a high-point for fans of Football, the changes ensure that it retains this post while hinting at even greater things to come next year.

Description

“APP STORE EDITORS’ CHOICE!”

We’ve been picked as an App Store Editors’ Choice! Thanks to all our fans for making FIFA 13 a worldwide hit.

The most authentic football game on the App Store just got better! Take control and build a team of the greatest global superstars with the all-new Ultimate Team feature. Get ready to hit the pitch with some awesome new features and stunning graphics enhanced for the iPhone 5. Plus, now you can dominate the leaderboards with Game Center – join the club!

ASTOUNDING VISUALS AND PRECISION CONTROLS
FIFA 13 is more realistic than ever – with all the authenticity and innovation you’ve come to expect from the FIFA franchise. Matches come to life with groundbreaking graphics and the most responsive controls ever delivered on iOS.

ULTIMATE TEAM
Build a squad of the greatest global superstars with the all-new Ultimate Team feature. Choose your play style, formation, kits, and more. Win matches and tournaments to earn coins, then spend them on new players and items to improve your team. The possibilities are endless.

SHOW YOUR SKILLS
The new Skill Move button lets you choose your favorite tricks with simple swipe gestures. Master free kicks and penalty shots with full touch control. Get in the game with realistic 360° player movement. Pull off defense-splitting passes, rifling shots, penalty kicks, and pro-style tricks.

CHALLENGE YOUR FRIENDS WITH ONLINE MULTIPLAYER
For the first time ever! Compete with friends anytime, anywhere using Online Multiplayer. Rise to the top of the Leaderboards and use superstars like Messi and Benzema to crush your competitors around the world.

JOIN THE CLUB
EA SPORTS Football Club lets you connect to real-world competitions, support your favorite club, and connect with friends, rivals, and millions of other players around the world. Level up and earn experience points to build status – then crush the competition on the Game Center leaderboards! You can even relive famous real-world football events through in-game challenges.

REAL PLAYERS, REAL TEAMS, REAL LEAGUES
Featuring 30 leagues, 500 licensed teams, and more than 15,000 players. From the English Premiership and La Liga, to the German Bundesliga and beyond – take the superstars of football on the pitch in Quick Match, Manager or the brand new Online Multiplayer and Tournament game modes as you dominate your league and march toward glory in 32 authentic stadiums.

SHOW OFF!
Now you can share your most glorious moments online – straight from Instant Replay!

NOTES:
- FIFA 13 is a universal build and can be installed on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
- If you have FIFA 13 installed on multiple devices, you can save a Manager Mode or a Tournament game onto iCloud on one device – then continue playing on another.
- Compatible devices include iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad, iPad (2nd generation), iPad (4th generation), iPad mini, iPod touch (3rd generation) (16 GB and above), or iPod touch (4th generation).
- For the best game experience, we recommend playing on iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad (2nd generation), or iPad (3rd generation).
- Device Firmware 4.0 and above required.

What's New in Version 1.0.9

We’ve made some behind-the-scenes adjustments to improve overall gameplay.